I’m a novice writer and I don’t claim to be an authority. This post, along with others, are my observations and reiterations of professional writers. I point out these pieces of information for other writers at my level to learn from my experiences and often errors.

I’m writing my first fiction manuscript. Creative writing has a diverse set of demands, just as non-fiction has. If we don’t meet these essential elements, our readers may quit after the first chapter. Many key areas in non-fiction, if included in fiction, turn off our audience.

For example, my first three books were memoirs. Providing my reader with basic information about myself is a requirement. They need to know my age, the topography and/or location where the events occur, and other details that support my story. This same information with fiction may not be relevant or may be too much (e.g., information dump).

One of the key elements to writing fiction is character development. If you don’t make your protagonist realistic and appealing, your story, no matter how good, won’t grab and keep the attention of your reader. I’ve found the techniques to handle this are many. I’ve read if we can’t make our character lifelike, then make them kooky to attract your reader.

We’ve often heard to be successful, write about something you know. It’s also said use yourself or someone you know well to obtain a persona. Including personality traits, fears, and experiences bring authenticity. Using actual people’s strengths and frailties makes character development strengthened.

If, in the introduction or early chapters, you reveal your protagonist’s fear; it provides the essential conflict or reader hook. Conversely, disclose what he/she yearns or requires enhances and moves the narrative forward.

Physical characteristics build realism in the individual. Height and/or weight might be too much information, but steely blue eyes that penetrate give enticement. Bodily strength or lack of sets up a potential plot. The type of gait they have when they move provides excitement or mystery. Your protagonist’s hair or skin color may or may not be essential. But a disfigurement such as a scar brings intrigue.

Using a southern dialect or a foreign accent provides individuality. Introducing it sparingly with your dialogue is “showing and not telling.” Inform the reader how the protagonist laughs. Do they whisper and why? Can they sing, or do they whistle when they’re happy?

Our storyline should include those elements that bring an understanding of how our principal character interacts with others or events. In addition, we need to include a subordinate character’s relevance to our protagonist. Do we have an antagonist? How does he/she influence our story? Each provides pieces of the puzzle we create. If the reader doesn’t understand or has an interest in our characters, then we don’t have a story.

 Just as important, it is that our protagonist–subordinate characters–antagonist has realism and depth; we need to provide a strong and believable interaction between them. This relationship of characters is as important for the reader to understand as to the characters themselves. But we should also be mindful to not introduce subordinate characters that bring nothing to our storyline. That can be as deadly as an ‘information dump.’ Do the subordinates bring happiness or fear to our protagonist? Each character needs to have his/her place and contribute to the ‘we’ in our narrative.

If we have been successful in our protagonist’s evolution, then our reader would recognize them if they walked into a room. The major character’s interaction needs to contribute to a moral or message of our plot. If our protagonist is dull or he/she is unbelievable, then our storyline will not advance and our readers will quickly leave.

Don’t be shy, leave me a comment.